A BILL to amend and reenact sections three and four, article two,chapter fifteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, all relating to the
structure of the state police; authorizing the superintendent
to establish organizational structure by interpretive rule;
providing that members assigned to the forensic laboratory
hold the title of trooper and are classified as criminalists;
increasing the number of principal supervisors who may be
appointed by the state police superintendent from eleven to fifteen; and providing for career progression for state police
holding a temporary appointment.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections three and four, article two, chapter fifteen of
the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:ARTICLE 2. WEST VIRGINIA STATE POLICE.

§15-2-3. State police structure; how established. (a) The superintendent shall create, appoint and equip a
department of public safety,the state police which shall consist
of the number of companiestroops, districts and detachments as are
required for the proper administration of the departmentstate
police. Each companytroop, district or detachment shall be
composed of the number of officers and members that the
superintendent determines are necessary to meet operational needs
and required for the efficient operation of the departmentstate
police. The superintendent shall establish the general
organizational structure of the state police by interpretive rule
in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty- nine-a of this code.(b) The superintendent shall provide adequate facilities for
the training of all members of the departmentstate police and
shall prescribe a basic training courserequirements for newly
enlisted members. He or she shall also provide advanced or in-service training from time to time for all members of the
departmentstate police. The superintendent shall hold training
classes for other peace officers in the state without cost to such
those officers, except actual expenses for food, lodging and school
supplies.

(a) The superintendent shall appoint, from the enlisted
membership of the departmentstate police, a deputy superintendent
who shall hold the rank of lieutenant colonel and be next in
authority to the superintendent. The superintendent shall appoint,
from the enlisted membership of the departmentstate police, the
number of other officers and members he deemsor sheconsiders
necessary to operate and maintain the executive offices, training
school, scientificand forensic laboratory, and to keep records
relating to crimes and criminals, coordinate traffic safety
activities, maintain a system of supplies and accounting and
perform other necessary services.(b) The ranks within the membership of the department shall bestate police are colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, first
lieutenant, second lieutenant, first sergeant, sergeant, corporal,
trooper first class senior trooper, or trooper and cadet trooper.
Each such member while in uniform shall wear the insignia of rank
as provided by law and departmental regulationswritten state police policies. Members assigned to the forensic laboratory shall
hold the title of trooper, be classified as criminalists and wear
the insignia of classification as provided by written state police
policies.(c) The superintendent may appoint from the membership of the
departmentelevenstate policefifteen principal supervisors who
shall receive the compensation and hold the temporary rank of
lieutenant colonel, major or captain at the will and pleasure of
the superintendent. SuchThe appointments shall beare exempt from
any eligibility requirements established by the career progression
system. Any person appointed to a temporary rank under the
provisions of this article shall retain his permanent rank or
classification and shall remainremains eligible for promotion or
reclassification under the provisions of the career progression
system if his or her permanent rank is below that of captain first
lieutenant. Upon the termination of a temporary appointment by the
superintendent, the member shallremains eligible for subsequent
appointment to a temporary rank and may not be entitled to the full
rights and privileges ofreduced to a rank or classification below
his or her permanent rank or classification, unless the reduction
results from disciplinary action.and shall remain eligible for
subsequent appointment to a temporary rank.